2020 - Porter Has Class

Teachers: The Greatest Showmen of All

Post published:December 29, 2020
Post category:Blog

Introduction I wrote this a long time ago and chose, for whatever reason, not to post it. Looking back, I feel it is a good time to post it. Why Do We Act This Way? We live in a world where we are consumed by our own image. We care deeply about how we appear. We are taught how we should look. As a man I am supposed to be tough, strong, and never, never cry. Well, I am a man, and I'm admitting that I have cried during movies. The Greatest Showman I have been brought to tears most…

Student Response to “The Cremation of Sam McGee”

Post published:December 6, 2020
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read Robert Service’s “The Cremation of Sam McGee” about a man fulfilling his friend’s dying wish. Write an essay identifying the tone of the passage and how it is established through the author’s word choice. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response “I’ll cash in the trip, I guess; and if I do, I'm asking you that you won’t refuse my last request.” This is the dying wish of Sam McGee, a character in Robert Service’s poem, “The Cremation of Sam McGee.” Sam McGee is a man from Tennessee who finds…

Student Response to “The Landlady” in 2020

Post published:November 22, 2020
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read the short story “The Landlady” a short story about a man named Billy Weaver who finds himself in the company of an unusual hostess yet feels compelled to stay. Write an essay explaining the word “dotty” as it is used on the first page and how it impacts the plot of the story. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response “I stuff all my little pets myself when they pass away.” This is a disturbing line from the short story “The Landlady” written by Roald Dahl where he tells the…

Student Response to “The Monkey’s Paw” in 2020

Post published:November 15, 2020
Post category:Student Work

Writing Task You have read “The Monkey’s Paw,” a short story about a family that is granted three wishes, but after receiving their wishes, suffer unexpected consequences. Write an essay identifying a theme and how it is developed over the course of the story. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response. Student Response “I just want my son back.” This unforgettable line from the short story “The Monkey’s Paw” is written by W.W Jacobs where he tells the story of how the White family lost their son because of a wish upon a magical monkey's paw. Jacobs describes…